The court martial is opened. Prisoners may be seated.
This is a general court martial. We'll dispense with unnecessary formalities.
These men are charged with cowardice in the face of the enemy...
and will be tried for that offense.
Mr. Prosecutor.
Call the accused, Private Ferol.
Mr. President, will the prosecutor...
question the witnesses without even reading the indictment?
Please don't take up the court's time with technicalities.
The indictment is lengthy and there's no point in reading it.
- The defense has a right-- - The indictment is...
that the accused showed cowardice in the face of the enemy...
during the attack on the Ant Hill.
Proceed, Mr. Prosecutor.
Call the accused, Private Ferol.
- Private Ferol. - Yes, sir?
Were you in the first wave during the attack on the Ant Hill?
- Yes, sir. - Did you refuse to advance?
No, sir.
- Did you advance? - Yes, sir.
How far did you advance?
- To about the middle of no-man's-land. - Then what did you do?
There were machine gun bullets landing all around--
Answer the question. What did you do?
Well, I saw that me and Meyer--
I didn't ask what you saw.
The court has no concern with your visual experiences.
- My what, sir? - You will reply to the question.
Yes, sir. What question was it?
You advanced to the middle of no-man's-land. What did you do then?
- Then, sir? - Did you go back or forward?
- I went back, sir. - In other words, Private Ferol...
you retreated.
Yes, sir.
That's all. The accused may return to his seat.
Just a minute.
Mr. President, I'd like to question the witness, if I may.
Proceed, Colonel.
Thank you. Private Ferol, when you reached the middle of no-man's-land...
were you alone with Private Meyer?
Yes, sir.
What happened to the rest of your company?
Well, I don't know, sir. I guess the rest of them had been killed or wounded.
You found yourself in the middle of no-man's-land alone with Private Meyer?
- Yes, sir. - Why didn't you attack single-handed?
Why didn't you storm the Ant Hill alone?
Just me and Meyer? You're kidding, sir.
Yes, I'm kidding, Private Ferol. Thank you. That's all.
I don't see the point of this line of questioning.
Well, I'm attempting to indicate, sir, the utter absurdity...
of the line of questioning used by the prosecutor.
Mr. Prosecutor.
So you freely admit, Private Ferol, that you retreated?
Yes, sir. Me and Meyer both.
I knew we should have took Ant Hill, but we came on back.
That's all.
The accused may return to his seat.
Private Arnaud, did you advance?
Yes, sir, until I was ordered back to the trenches by Captain Renouart.
How far did you advance?
Into the wire, sir.
The enemy wire, I suppose.
No, sir. It was our wire.
You mean to tell me that you didn't advance any further than our wire?
No, sir. I didn't.
How far would you say that was? How many meters?
Well, I advanced as far as I could.
How many meters?
Not many.
Not many?
Now, Private Arnaud...
before you were ordered back...
did you urge your fellow soldiers forward?
Most were dead or wounded before they got three steps beyond the trenches.
Reply to the question.
I didn't urge them on. No, sir.
Thank you.
Private Arnaud, at ease, please.
Aside from your sad failure to give throat to spirited battle cries...
was your behavior different in any respect...
from that of the other men?
Objection. That's a matter of conjecture.
Sustained.
Did any men in your company get beyond our wire?
No, sir.
Is it true that you've been designated a coward...
simply and purely because you drew a slip of paper marked "X"?
Yes, sir.
I don't see that that's significant.
It's accepted practice in the French army to pick examples by lot.
Since this entire company advanced only a few meters...
picking by lot was eminently fair in this case.
Well, I'd like to point out that this soldier has distinguished himself...
in some of the bloodiest battles of the war.
With the court's permission, I'll read citations for bravery...
that he's already earned on two occasions.
First, citations in the Orders in the Army for bravery--
That's immaterial. The accused is not being tried for his former bravery...
but for his recent cowardice.
Medals are no defense.
May I call witnesses to his character?
You may not.
But you may call witnesses to the effect that he reached the German wire.
Mr. President, no one in the entire regiment...
got anywhere near the German wire, including myself.
Call the next accused.
If you're through, Colonel.
Thank you.
The prisoner may return to his seat.
- So you never even left the trenches? - No, sir.
That's all.
Corporal Paris, why didn't you leave the trenches?
Major Vignon was shot, and he fell back on top of me, sir, and knocked me cold.
And were you lying unconscious in the trenches during the entire attack?
Yes, sir.
- That's all. - Have you any witnesses?
No. Everybody was too busy to notice me, and there were many others lying dead.
- But you have no witnesses? - No, sir.
I only have a rather large cut on my head, sir.
That could've been self-inflicted later.
Thank you. You may stand down.
Mr. Prosecutor, you can make your plea.
Gentlemen of the court...
this case speaks for itself.
All of us witnessed the regrettable attack yesterday morning.
And I submit that that attack...
was a stain on the flag of France...
a blot on the honor...
of every man, woman and child in the French nation.
It is to us that the sad...
distressing, repellent duty falls, gentlemen.
I ask this court...
to find the accused guilty...
and impose the penalties prescribed by the code of military justice.
Thank you.
Colonel, would you like to make your plea?
Gentlemen of the court, there are times when I'm ashamed...
to be a member of the human race, and this is one such occasion.
It's impossible for me to summarize the case for the defense since...
the court never allowed me a reasonable opportunity to present my case.
Are you protesting the authenticity of this court?
Yes, sir.
I protest against being prevented from introducing evidence...
that I consider vital to the defense.
The prosecution presented no witnesses.
There has never been a written indictment of charges...
made against the defendants.
And lastly I protest against the fact that...
no stenographic records of this trial have been kept.
The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honor of France...
and certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation.
But this court martial is such a stain...
and such a disgrace.
The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice.
Gentlemen of the court...
to find these men guilty would be a crime...
to haunt each of you till the day you die.
I can't believe that the noblest impulse of man--
his compassion for another-- can be completely dead here.
Therefore I humbly beg you...
show mercy to these men.
The accused will be escorted back to the guard room.
The hearing is closed. The court will now retire to deliberate.
There will be a guard of six men under arms.
Rifles loaded, bayonets fixed, two men to each prisoner.
Any sign of trouble, the prisoners will be instantly covered...
and if the trouble doesn't subside at once, the prisoner will be shot.
Everything must go off without a hitch with the least possible delay.
It shouldn't be hurried. There must be no fumbling around.
I've been put in charge and made personally responsible...
for any lack of order or any mistakes.
But you can take it from me that I shall pass on any blame and with interest...
to any one of you who fails in his duties.
The execution will take place at 7:00...
according to the verdict of the court martial.
Detail, attention! Dismissed!
- This is compliments of General Mireau. - Duck!
- Well, tell him thanks. - Don't blame me, soldier.
Hey, ugly, what are we supposed to eat this with, our fingers?
The guard says you can't have any knives or forks.
Is this supposed to be our last meal or something?
It isn't supposed to be our last meal. It is our last meal.
This duck is terrific.
You suppose they'd put anything in the food?
First they poison us, then they shoot us?
- I think they put something in it. - Like what?
Like, uh-- like something to make us groggy or something.
What would be wrong with that if they did?
Maybe nothing for you, but I'm going to get out of this somehow.
- And I don't want to be drugged. - How are you going to get out?
Chew your way through that stone wall?
Colonel Dax, he'll see us through.
Listen, we got to get out of here. They're going to kill us if we don't.
- Have you got an idea? - No, but there's got to be a way.
How many guys you think they've got out there?
They may have a couple of squads. That's what it sounded like this morning.
- Maybe they're some of our friends. - That's the Third Battalion.
Anyway, right now we have no friends.
Why kid yourself? We're not going to get out of this.
Maybe you're not, but I am. I'll guarantee you of that.
You see that cockroach?
Tomorrow morning, we'll be dead and it'll be alive.
It'll have more contact with my wife and child than I will.
I'll be nothing, and it'll be alive.
Now you got the edge on him.
Good evening, my sons. I'm Father Du Pres.
- Is there any news? - Yes, I'm afraid I bring you bad news.
You must prepare for the worst. Colonel Dax asked me to tell you.
- Oh, mercy, no! - He's been in telephone contact...
with army headquarters but unable to speak to General Broulard...
or to anyone in authority.
The same way at Division. No one wants to be found.
- How much time do we have? - You have plenty of time yet.
Certainly more than enough to prepare yourselves.
Father, will you take this letter, please?
- Of course, my son. - It's to my wife.
She won't understand this, and I tried to explain it to her.
I'll see that she gets it.
Do you want me to hear your confession?
Well, Father, to tell you the truth, I'm not very religious.
I know you're trying to help, and I appreciate it...
but if I started praying now I'd feel like a hypocrite.
Oh, that's an error, my son.
God is always ready to listen to your prayers.
All right, Father. Will you please hear my confession?
Yes.
Have faith in your creator, my son. Death comes to us all.
In the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
That's really deep: "Death comes to us all."
That really is deep.
Ferol, afraid your luck isn't going to hold up?
Look! This is my religion.
Oh, great bottle, forgive me my sins, for now I lay me down to sleep.
Bo-peep. May I drink of you first? Thank you. Amen.
I understand your anguish, my son, but you must not let it harden your heart.
May I tell you something, Father?
Back in my hometown, there was a certain little cafe...
with an amusing sign over the bar.
It read,
"Do not be afraid to ask for credit, for our way of refusing is very polite."
- Come on. Sit down. You're drunk. - Oh, Paris, leave me alone.
Can you get out of here with your sanctimonious, pat answers?
- Are you hanging around to torture us? - No, to help you with all my power.
- Your power? You have no power! - No, but God has power.
- Does he? What a laugh! - You can be saved.
Saved? I'll be saved?
Cut it out, Arnaud!
Father, get a doctor. Quick.
That should keep him quiet long enough. That's a nasty skull fracture, though.
- He may not live out the night. - What are we supposed to do with him?
My advice is to tie him to a stretcher so he won't slip when you tilt it.
Surely they won't execute a man in that condition.
The sentence will be carried out. I've already checked with the general.
If he's still alive in the morning, pinch his cheeks a couple of times.
It may make him open his eyes. The general wants him to be conscious.
Yes?
- Lieutenant Roget reporting, sir. - Come in.
Sergeant Boulanger said you wanted to see me, sir.
Yes. We have a pretty unpleasant thing on our hands in a few hours.
- You mean the execution? - Yes.
Yes, sir. It's very unfortunate.
Very unfortunate. That's just how I feel about it.
- None of us are happy about it, sir. - How'd you happen...
to pick Corporal Paris?
I-- I had to pick somebody, sir.
That's right. Of course, you had no personal motive...
in picking Paris, did you?
You picked him because he was a coward, didn't you?
Did you or didn't you?
Yes, sir. I did.
Well, like you say, somebody had to be picked.
- It was quite a problem, sir. - Yes, I have the same kind of problem.
I have to pick someone to be in charge of the firing squad tomorrow.
Do you have any objections to taking the job?
- Me, sir? - Yes, you.
Don't you feel well?
We-- No-- Yeah, I feel all right, sir. It's just that l--
I-Is it too hot in here? Would you like me to open a window?
Well, it's just that I've never been in charge of a firing squad before, sir.
There's nothing to it. First you help the sergeant tie the men to the post...
and offer the men blindfolds-- if they want them, you tie them on.
Now, you take your position with the firing squad, you raise your sword:
Ready, aim, fire.
Then you draw your revolver out, walk forward...
and put a bullet through each man's head.
Sir, I request that I be excused from this duty.
Request denied.
- Colonel, l-- - You've got the job. It's all yours.
- That's all. - Colonel, if you could just--
That's all!
Yes?
Excuse me, sir. Colonel Dax?
- Yes? - My name is Rousseau, sir.
- Captain of Artillery. - What is it, Captain?
I have something to tell you that may have a bearing on the court martial.
Come in.
Colonel. Good evening.
- Good evening. - Come and sit down.
Thank you, sir. I-- I'm really sorry to intrude on you in this way.
Not at all. Always delighted to see you, Colonel Dax. Will you have a cigar?
No, thank you, sir.
- Well, l-- - Think you'll find it delicious.
I must apologize for not inviting you to the party tonight...
but I'm afraid that it's a dress affair.
Thank you, sir, but I must confess...
that this is not entirely a social visit.
Come, Dax. Let's not go over all that ground again.
Though, I must admit that judging....
from the casualties, the efforts of your regiment must have been considerable.
How can you understand that and allow these men to be shot tomorrow?
Come, Colonel, you're choosing to take a rather simple view of this.
The attack was impossible. The general staff must have known that.
Colonel Dax, we think we're doing a good job running the war.
You must be aware the general staff is subject to unfair pressures...
from newspapers and politicians.
Maybe the attack against the Ant Hill was impossible.
Perhaps it was an error of judgment on our part.
On the other hand, if your men had been more daring, they might have taken it.
Who knows? In any case...
why should we have to bear any more criticism than we have to?
Aside from the fact that many of your men never left the trenches...
there's the troops' morale, don't forget.
- The troops' morale? - Certainly.
These executions will be a perfect tonic for the entire division.
There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating...
than seeing someone else die.
- I never thought of that, sir. - Colonel, troops are like children.
Just as a child wants his father to be firm, troops crave discipline.
One way to maintain discipline is to shoot a man now and then.
May I ask...
do you sincerely believe the things you've said?
It's been a pleasure discussing this with you, Colonel...
but I'm afraid that I'd better be getting back to my guests.
Forgive me for having kept you from your party.
Oh, by the way, sir, have you heard that General Mireau...
ordered his own battery commander, Captain Rousseau...
to open fire on his own positions during the attack?
Of course, the captain refused without a written order.
But General Mireau demanded that he commence firing on our own trenches.
Well, again, Rousseau refused without an order in writing...
but again he was ordered and again he refused...
all in front of witnesses.
Do you actually believe this fantastic story?
Here are copies of the sworn statements from all the principals involved.
Battery Commander Rousseau, Captain Nichols, the artillery spotter...
the telephone clerk and my own deposition.
What has this got to do with the charge against the condemned prisoners?
A general in a tantrum over the failure of an impossible attack...
orders his artillery to fire on his own men.
The same officer on the same day orders a court martial...
in which three of his men are sentenced to be shot.
General, what would your newspapers and your politicians do with that?
- Are you trying to blackmail me? - Sir, that's an ugly word...
but you are in a difficult position.
Too much has happened. Someone's got to be hurt. The question is whom.
General Mireau's assault on the Ant Hill failed.
His order to fire on his own troops was refused.
But his attempt to murder three innocent men...
to protect his own reputation will be prevented by the general staff.
Will you pardon me, Colonel Dax? I've been rude to my guests too long.
Detail, halt!
Order, arms!
Fall out.
Courage, my sons. The worst is over.
Good morning, Paris.
Good morning, Sergeant. How are you today?
Not too bad. How are you?
You missed some good chow in here last night.
What did you have?
Have you got a drink for us?
Take a swig of this.
It just occurred to me. Funny thing. I--
I haven't had one sexual thought since the court martial.
It's pretty extraordinary, isn't it?
Act like a man.
- Listen, Paris. Are you listening? - Yes.
There will be a lot of dignitaries, newspapermen out there.
How do you want to be remembered?
- I don't want to die. - Many of us will be joining you...
before this war's over.
I don't care. I don't want to die.
- Please save me, Sergeant. - I can't save you. No one can now.
This is the last decision you'll have a chance to make on earth.
You can act like a man, or we'll have to drag you out of here.
In the end, it will all be the same. It's up to you.
Let's get busy. You and Ferol take your coats off. No use hanging around here.
...with the help of Thy grace to do penance...
to amend my life.
What do I have to die for, Father?
What do I have to die for? I didn't do anything wr--
We do not question the will of God, my son.
But I fought. I fought. I fought on the battlefield.
Why don't they die? Why don't they put them to death?
You showed courage in the face of the enemy, my son.
Show it now before your own troops.
But I'm scared. I'm scared.
Oh, Father, I'm scared.
Courage. Brace yourself. Man, brace yourself.
He said, "This day, thou shalt be with me in paradise."
- Really, Father? - Yes, my son.
I'll never see my wife again, Father.
I'll never see nobody again, Father.
Courage, man. Brace yourself.
- I can't help it. - Brace yourself, man.
- I can't help it, Father. - Oh, God, Almighty God.
- Oh, Christ. Strengthen me, God! - Grant courage to this man...
who is about to die.
What do I have to die for, Father?
What do I have to die for?
Forward, face!
Secure the men!
Detail, attention!
Forward, march!
Detail...
halt!
Left, face!
Repent.
In the name of the French people...
Corporal Phillip Paris, Private Maurice Ferol...
and Private Pierre Arnaud of the 701st Regiment...
having been found guilty of cowardice in the face of the enemy...
are to be executed by rifle fire immediately...
in accordance with the judgment of the military court martial.
You want a blindfold?
Yes, Lieutenant. Please.
I don't want to die.
Did-- Did you want a blindfold?
I'm sorry.
Oh, Father.
Ready!
Aim!
Fire!
I'm awfully glad you could be there, George.
This sort of thing is always rather grim.
But this had splendor, don't you think?
I have never seen an affair of this sort handled any better.
The men died wonderfully. There's always that chance...
that one will do something that will leave everyone with a bad taste.
This time, you couldn't ask for better.
Yes?
- Yes, Colonel? - You wanted to see me, sir.
Oh, yes. Come in, Colonel. Come in and sit down.
Colonel, your men died very well.
- Would you like some coffee, Colonel? - No, thank you, sir.
Paul, it's been brought to my attention that you ordered your artillery...
to fire on your own men during the attack on the Ant Hill.
I did what? Who told you that?
Colonel Dax came to me last night with the story.
I've always known you were a disloyal officer...
but I never dreamed you would stoop to anything so low as this.
I've sworn statements from Captain Nichols, your artillery spotter...
Captain Rousseau, the battery commander who refused your order.
I think it's absolutely infamous.
Then there's no truth to the charge made by Colonel Dax?
I don't see how you could even ask me that.
You cannot imagine how glad I am to hear that, Paul.
I'm certain you'll come through it all right.
- I'll come through what? - There'll have to be an inquiry.
- An inquiry? - Those things, the public forgets.
- Public? - You've got to clear your name.
You cannot allow such vile insinuations against your character to go undenied.
So that's it.
You're making me the goat.
The only completely innocent man in this whole affair.
I have only one last thing to say to you, George.
The man you stabbed in the back is a soldier.
Well...
it had to be done.
France cannot afford to have fools guiding her military destiny.
I'm grateful to you for having brought this matter to my attention.
Colonel, how would you like General Mireau's job?
- His what? - His job.
Let me get this straight, sir.
You're offering me General Mireau's command?
Come, come, Colonel Dax. Don't overdo the surprise.
You've been after the job from the start. We all know that, my boy.
I may be many things, sir, but I am not your boy.
Well, I certainly didn't mean to imply any biological relationship.
- I'm not your boy in any sense. - Are you trying to provoke me, Colonel?
- Why should I want to do that? - Exactly. It would be a pity...
to lose your promotion before you get it.
A promotion you have so very carefully planned for.
Sir, would you like me to suggest what you can do with that promotion?
Colonel, you will apologize at once or shall be placed under arrest!
I apologize for not being entirely honest with you.
I apologize for not revealing my true feelings.
I apologize for not telling you sooner...
that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man.
And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!
Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me.
You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality.
You really did want to save those men...
and you were not angling for Mireau's command.
You're an idealist, and I pity you as I would the village idiot.
We're fighting a war, a war that we've got to win.
Those men didn't fight, so they were shot.
You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist he answer them.
Wherein have I done wrong?
Because you don't know the answer to that question...
I pity you.
Thank you.
Now, gentlemen, we have a special entertainment...
for you.
Sort of a-- sort of a little diversion, as it were.
And my wife always says, "What is life without a little diversion?"
Now, gentlemen, I give you our latest acquisition from the enemy.
Boo!
From Germany, the land of the Hun!
Gentlemen, a little pearl washed ashore...
by the tide of war.
Hey, talk in a civilized language!
It's true. The little lady has her limitations.
As a matter of fact, she has absolutely no talent at all...
except, that is, maybe a little natural talent.
The little lady can't dance, she can't tell any jokes...
and she can't balance rubber balls on her little nose.
But she can sing like a bird! She has a throat of gold.
- Come on, baby! - Come on, honey! Sing us a song!
Louder!
- Sir. - Yes, sir?
We have orders to move back to the front immediately.
- Give the men a few minutes more. - Yes, sir.